Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-10-27
SHOCKING DEPRAvITY.

Confessions of Two Sixteen Year Old
Girls Lead to the Discovery of Little
Annie Cunning Detective Reilly
Takes Her From House of HI Fame
I'm Wallingford-Another Young Girl
Taken Into Custody and More Arrests
To FollOW-A Touching Scene.
Annie Cunning, daughter of John Gun
ming of 142 Lafayette street, who ran away
from home some weeks ago, was captured by
Wallingford yesterday.
She was brought to this city early last
evening and on charge of lascivious carriage
was locked up at the central station
Detective Reilly was notified soon after the
girl disappeared and he has been looking for
her ever since. While seeking for the Gun
ming girl the detective learned that she had
been seen in the company of Della Green and
Mary Mcclure, two girls each about sixteen
years of age. The detective traced these two
girls to the residence of the Green girls par
ents on Ward street, and found to his sur
prise that the premises had been vacated. In
the hope of finding clue he entered. On a
lot of rags in one corner he found the two
girls, but the girl he was looking for was not
there. The girls protested their innocence,
but were arrested. They will be brought
before the City court this morning
They stated that they had met the Gun
ming girl in house of illfame, but had left
her over month ago.
Detective Reilly diligently pursued his
search for the missing girl and was finally
successful. Late yesterday afternoon he
found her in house of illfame near Wal
lingford. He brought her to this city and
she is now locked up at the central station
After supper the detective ferreted out
another case of depravity which has not been
equalled in his official remem branee. Thir-
teen year old Mary Evers was taken into Gus
tody and likewise charged with lascivious
carriage. 1t transpires that she had run
away from home some time ago, and had
resided in house of illfame kept by one
Matt Ward.
The Evers girl does not look a hardened
character, and even the detective expressed
surprise when he learned of her low condi-
ton. She has well rounded form and
pair Of black eyes and rosy cheeks make
her look far from unprepossessing.
She took her arrest very unconcernedly,
and while Agent Preston of the Associated
Charities board talked with her at the police
Office would occasionally smile and masticate
a hunk of gum which she was constantly
changing from one side of her mouth to the
other.
''She is the worst fabricator for one SO
young that it has been my fate to meet"
said the detective.
The Mcclure and Green girls spent the
night at the Jail, while the Evers girl was
confined at the police Office.
Shortly after 8 O'Clock last night the moth
or of the Cunning girl called at the police
Office after having learned that her lost child
had been found and desired to give bonds
for her. Mrs. Cunning is a woman of re-
spectacle and comely appearance, and after
stating that she had the wherewithal to bail
out her daughter requested to see her.
''There's mothers love-" said City Attor-
ney Hugh Daley as he accompanied ~
pa as y uo Ginning Threw her arms around he;
daughter and both wspt .sssSrh tsr- requested
rs woa a9ne With her daughter and the
request was complied with by the officers.
Detective Reilly said that several more
arrests were contemplated of young and
vicious girls who were on the high road to
their downfall He has the information and
will make use of it as soon as practicable.
Chief Bollman has given special instruc
tons to the officers to break up all parties of
young girls and hoodlums found in dark and
out of the way places.
The advocates of police matron had their
faith considerably strengthened when they
learned of the arrests.
"Why, Just think of it," said one, ''these
are young girls hardly out of short dresses,
and all of them under sixteen years of age,
who have reached a state of depravity which
would shame hardened women. Is q police
matron needed ?-why, look for yourself
Here are examples enough"
The Cunning girl was released on bond
Of 5000.
City Attorney Daley said that in the cases
Of the Cunning, Mcclure and Green girls
the court will have to infiict little "encour-
By this he meant a fine and jail
penalty.
.ha Industrial school. :.